Lawrence County, Indiana was formed from Orange County on 1 Mar 1818 as the result of a legislative act of 7 Jan 1818. The county was named after James Lawrence. He is best remembered as having been responsible for his words "Don't give up the ship" during the War of 1812.

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=== Historical Facts ===

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The original county seat of Lawrence County was Palestine, located on the White River. The county seat was moved and renamed Bedford as the result of an 1825 legislative act.

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The territory that eventually became Lawrence County, Indiana was once a part of Washington County and later of Orange County. Lawrence County was formed from Orange County on 1 Mar 1818 as the result of a legislative act of 7 Jan 1818.

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==== Parent County ====

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The county was named after James Lawrence. He is best remembered as having been responsible for his words "Don't give up the ship" during the War of 1812.

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'''1818--'''Lawrence County was created 7 January 1818&nbsp;from [[Orange County, Indiana|Orange ]]County.&nbsp;&nbsp;'''County seat: '''Bedford <ref name="Handybook">''The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America'',10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).</ref>

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The original county seat of Lawrence County was Palestine, located on the White River. Lawrence County's first circuit court was held 4 Jun 1818 in the home of James Gregory at Leatherwood, east of the present-day location of Bedford.

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==== Boundary Changes ====

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The first courthouse was built in the spring of 1818 at Palestine. A new courthouse was constructed in Palestine in 1822.

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==== Record Loss ====

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The county seat was moved and renamed Bedford as the result of an 1825 legislative act. A temporary log courthouse was erected in Bedford in early 1825. The first court term in Bedford opened 6 Feb 1826. A new courthouse was completed in May of 1834. An 1869 move for a new courthouse resulted in construction of a new building in 1872.

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== Places/Localities ==

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==== Populated Places ====

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==== Townships ====

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Lawrence County currently consists of nine townships:

Lawrence County currently consists of nine townships:

Line 33:

Line 32:

*Spice Valley

*Spice Valley

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Another township, Flinn Township, has been incorporated into Guthrie, Pleasant Run, and Shawswick Townships.

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Another township, Flinn Township, has been incorporated into Guthrie, Pleasant Run, and Shawswick Townships.

'''1818--'''Lawrence County was organized 1 Mar 1818 as the result of a legislative act of 7 January 1818. The county was formed from [[Orange County, Indiana|Orange ]]County.<ref name="Handybook">''The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America'',10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).</ref>

Civil War service men from&nbsp;Lawrence County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in&nbsp;Lawrence County:<br>

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Civil War service men from Lawrence County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in&nbsp;Lawrence County:<br>

[http://indianacourthouses.com/pages/47.htm Lawrence County Courthouse]<br>Bedford, IN 47421<br>Phone: 812.275.7543&nbsp;<br><br>County&nbsp;Clerk has marriage, probate, divorce and court records from 1818.<br>County Health Department has birth and death records.<br>County Recorder has land records from 1818 and military records.<ref name="HBG">''Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America'', 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Lawrence County, Indiana 214 {{WorldCat|50140092|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}; {{FHL|1049485|item|disp=FHL Book 973 D27e 2002}}.</ref>

Historical Facts

The territory that eventually became Lawrence County, Indiana was once a part of Washington County and later of Orange County. Lawrence County was formed from Orange County on 1 Mar 1818 as the result of a legislative act of 7 Jan 1818.

The county was named after James Lawrence. He is best remembered as having been responsible for his words "Don't give up the ship" during the War of 1812.

The original county seat of Lawrence County was Palestine, located on the White River. Lawrence County's first circuit court was held 4 Jun 1818 in the home of James Gregory at Leatherwood, east of the present-day location of Bedford.

The first courthouse was built in the spring of 1818 at Palestine. A new courthouse was constructed in Palestine in 1822.

The county seat was moved and renamed Bedford as the result of an 1825 legislative act. A temporary log courthouse was erected in Bedford in early 1825. The first court term in Bedford opened 6 Feb 1826. A new courthouse was completed in May of 1834. An 1869 move for a new courthouse resulted in construction of a new building in 1872.

Populated Places

Lawrence County currently consists of nine townships:

Bono

Guthrie

Indian Creek

Marion

Marshall

Perry

Pleasant Run

Shawswick

Spice Valley

Another township, Flinn Township, has been incorporated into Guthrie, Pleasant Run, and Shawswick Townships.

Land and Property

Maps

Military Records

Civil War service men from Lawrence County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Lawrence County: